Non-Subscriber Extract
Georgia will hand over detained Russian officers
- Article Tools
| 03 October 2006 |
| EVENT |
| Georgia announced on 2 October that it is to hand over four Russian military officers arrested on spying-related charges on 27 September to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). |
The decision by Tbilisi to hand the prisoners to the OSCE demonstrates a desire to legitimise the arrests within an international framework. It could also signal an attempt by Georgia to reduce the current level of tensions, which escalated dangerously following the arrests.
Relations between the two states have plummeted to their lowest point in recent years during the crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the Georgian authorities of state terrorism, while Moscow refused entry visas
for Georgian nationals and withdrew its ambassador and various diplomats from Tbilisi.
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© 2006 Jane's Information Group
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